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MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

MACKIE TO BUY EAW On February 3, Mackie Designs Inc. and Eastern Acoustic Works Inc. announced the signing of a nonbinding letter of intent by which Mackie

MACKIE TO BUY EAWOn February 3, Mackie Designs Inc. and Eastern Acoustic Works Inc. announced the signing of a nonbinding letter of intent by which Mackie will purchase all shares of EAW. The purchase agreement was expected to be completed within 60 days.

“This move is a win-win for both sides,” said EAW president Kenneth Berger. “There will be a cross-pollination of our best technologies, while we both remain devoted to serving our primary markets.” The majority of each company’s day-to-day operations will remain separate, including product distribution channels, with EAW remaining at its headquarters and manufacturing site in Whitinsville, Mass.

Mackie chairman Greg Mackie commented on the synergy of the agreement: “Mackie and EAW specialize in completely different markets of the professional audio world. Together, we can help each other grow in new areas for both our companies.”

PEAVEY AND GENERALMUSIC MAKE AN ALLIANCEPeavey Electronics Corporation and Italian company Generalmusic have announced a strategic alliance. Peavey will distribute Generalmusic’s keyboard products in North America and the UK. In turn, Generalmusic will distribute Peavey products in Italy.

According to Peavey CEO Hartley Peavey, the alliance is “a continuation of our strategy to align Peavey with world-class manufacturers in order for our business to grow. We feel very good about this relationship with [Generalmusic owner] Matteo Galanti and his family.” Both companies are family-run businesses, with the roots of Generalmusic going back to accordions built by founder Antonio Galanti in 1890.

GHS PURCHASES ROCKTRON ASSETSGHS Corporation, a leading manufacturer of musical instrument strings and accessories, finalized an agreement to purchase key assets related to signal processing and guitar amplification from Rocktron Corp. of Rochester Hills, Mich., known in the pro community for products such as its HUSH series of noise-reduction processors and Intellifex reverbs. GHS will provide support for a new Rocktron division based in Michigan.

HARMAN PRO ACQUIRES CROWN INTERNATIONALHarman Pro Group announced a preliminary agreement to acquire Crown International Inc., the pro audio amplifies manufacturer. Richard Newberry, president of Crown International, commented, “As part of the Harman family, Crown will become a more broadly positioned supplier for both its current customer base as well as new untapped markets.” Newberry will continue to serve as president of Crown, reporting directly to Mark Terry, president of Harman Pro.

Other companies within the Harman Pro Group include dbx, DigiTech, DOD, JBL Professional, Johnson Amplifiers and Lexicon.

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